What is an AI code editor?
An AI code editor is a code editor that builds AI into the editing experience: completions that appear as you type, a chat sidebar that can see your open files, and usually an agent mode that plans and applies changes across the project. The editor stays the center; the AI works inside it, next to your cursor.
That design is excellent for one developer working hands-on. It is less suited to running several agents at once, because the editor has one open project, one working copy and one place where edits land.
What is Tallos?
Tallos is a desktop agentic development environment (ADE) for macOS and Windows that runs several AI coding agents in parallel, each in its own isolated workspace, with chat, terminals, a browser and diff review built in. It runs the agent CLIs you already use — Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode and others — on your existing subscriptions and API keys.
The positioning is simple: built for multi-agent development, not added as an AI sidebar. Tallos starts from the agents: many of them, running at once, each with its own workspace.
How does Tallos compare to AI code editors?
They overlap less than it looks. The table below includes what editors do well, because that is part of a fair answer.
| Capability | Tallos | AI code editors (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Main activity | Assign tasks to agents and review what they produce | Write and edit code with AI help |
| Inline completions as you type | Not the focus: agents write code in their workspaces | Yes, a core strength |
| Debugger, language-aware refactors, extensions | Basic editor; run linters and type-checkers in a terminal | Deep, a core strength |
| Several agents running at once | Yes | Usually one |
| Isolated workspace per task | Native: a git worktree and branch per task | Manual setup |
| Which agents | Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and more, side by side | Varies; often the editor's own agent |
| Install and sign in to agent CLIs | Built in (Connections page) | Manual |
| Terminal | Built in | Built in |
| Browser preview | Built in, one per workspace | Often a separate app |
| Review sent back to agents | Line comments batched and sent to the agent | Accept or reject inline edits; varies |
| Agent teams with a leader | Squads | — |
| macOS and Windows | Yes | Yes |
What do AI code editors do well?
AI code editors are the best tool for hands-on coding with AI assistance. If you are the one typing, they are hard to beat.
- Flow while typing: completions and quick edits without leaving the file.
- Deep language tooling: debuggers, go-to-definition across projects, safe renames, test explorers.
- Extension ecosystems: plugins for nearly every language, framework and platform.
- Small, interactive changes: ask, look, tweak, repeat, all in one pane.
- Familiarity: most developers already know their editor's keybindings and layout.
What does Tallos do differently?
Tallos treats the agent, not the file, as the unit you manage. That changes how the whole app is laid out.
AI sidebar in an editor
- One project window, one working copy
- AI edits land where you are typing
- Usually one agent session at a time
- The editor's agent, inside the editor
- Review means accepting edits as they arrive
Tallos
- One workspace and branch per task
- Agents work away from your own edits
- Several agents running at once
- Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and more
- Review a full diff, send line notes back
- [Parallel workspaces](/features/parallel-workspaces): every task gets its own git worktree, so agents never overwrite each other.
- [Diff review](/features/diff-review): comment on any line of an agent's diff and send all notes back in one batch.
- [Built-in browser](/features/built-in-browser): a real browser per workspace; click an element and send it to an agent with its markup and a screenshot.
- [Squads](/features/squads): a leader agent splits the work across member agents, loops within the limits you set and ends with a report you accept or discard.
Keep your editor. Give your agents their own environment.
When should I use an AI code editor, Tallos, or both?
Use an AI code editor when you are doing the work, Tallos when agents are doing it, and both when your day has some of each.
| Situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Stepping through a bug with breakpoints | AI code editor |
| A careful refactor you want to type yourself | AI code editor |
| Three unrelated tickets you want agents to take in parallel | Tallos |
| Comparing how Claude Code and Codex solve the same task | Tallos |
| A feature split across API, UI and tests with a reviewer agent | Tallos (squad) |
| Reading an agent's change, then fixing one line by hand | Either: review in Tallos, edit in its editor or in yours |
For the category-level version of this question, see ADE vs IDE.
How do I use Tallos with my editor?
Run agents in Tallos and open any workspace in your editor when you want to work by hand. Each workspace is a real git worktree, a normal folder on disk.
- 1
Connect your agents
Install and sign in to Claude Code, Codex or Gemini CLI from the Connections page.
- 2
Start tasks in Tallos
Each task gets its own workspace and branch; pick an agent for each.
- 3
Review in Tallos
Read the diff, leave line comments and send them back to the agent.
- 4
Take over in your editor when needed
Open the workspace folder in your AI code editor for debugging or hand edits.
- 5
Ship
Commit, push and open a pull request from the workspace.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tallos an AI code editor?
No. Tallos is an agentic development environment: it runs and organizes AI coding agents, each in its own workspace. It includes an editor for hand edits, but the app is built around agents, tasks and review.
Does Tallos replace my code editor?
Usually not. Most developers keep their editor for hands-on work and debugging, and use Tallos to run several agents in parallel and review their diffs.
Can I use my editor's AI and Tallos at the same time?
Yes. Tallos workspaces are normal folders on disk, so you can open any of them in your editor while agents work in the others.
Does Tallos have inline AI completions?
That is not what Tallos is built for. In Tallos, agents write code in their own workspaces and you review the result; for completions while you type, an AI code editor is the better tool.
Which agents does Tallos run?
Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Grok CLI, Qwen Code and MiMo Code can be set up from the Connections page, GitHub Copilot and many other CLIs are detected automatically, and any CLI agent can be added as a custom agent.
Do I need a new AI subscription for Tallos?
No. Tallos uses the agent subscriptions and API keys you already have and does not resell model access.
Does Tallos run on macOS and Windows?
Yes. Tallos is a desktop app for macOS 13 or later (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows 10 or later.
